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Simon Macklin

Power of Bicycles

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My Activity Tracking

16,730
kms

My target 1200 kms

Early August

Having left winter behind for some summer training in the northern hemisphere, I am now DRIES (Dodging Rain In England’s Summer). The weather has been unbelievable with, so far, only 2 days out of 13 when it hasn’t rained!
Nevertheless have got some rides in and am an expert in cleaning bikes! Road surfaces are variable, ranging from ok to awful, and the car drivers have been pretty respectful. 3 weeks to go before heading to France.
Bon chance!

4 1/2 weeks to go!

A solid outing to his weekend. 300 on Sunday, 100 today. Legs feeling good!
Packing the bike to head to the UK for final preparation and summer acclimatisation.
Hope the bike makes the journey without damage!

Prep work update 10 July

A slight hiatus last week with a dose of the nasty URTI doing the rounds, combined with weather that was not conducive to riding a bicycle outdoors!
Still, managed 100km on Saturday and 200km on Sunday weekend before last, and 100km Sunday 9 July.
10 days to go until departing for northern hemisphere summer training and 5 weeks to go before le grand depart in Paris.
The nervous anticipation is rising!

1 July and 7 weeks to go!

i had a wonderful weekend in Hereford, UK for my niece's wedding, which was a welcome break from training but maybe not the best preparation! Now back to it with 7 weeks to go until the off.
The response from friends and followers to my request for donations to World Bicycle Relief has been so amazing that I have increased my target to 35 bicycles (or $7000, in hard cash terms).
Spread the word!!!
A big thank you to all you lovely people who have donated already - the cockles of my heart are warmed by your generosity.

Preparation

To qualify for PBP, one has to jump through certain hoops.
Firstly, one can reserve a place on the ride and the further one has ridden (in one go) the earlier one can reserve the place. In October I rode 600km in Victoria, taking wonderful pictures of silo art along the way, as my “reservation ride”.
Place now reserved, one has to qualify by complete if 4 more rides: 200km, 300km, 400km and 600km. All have a cut-off time. Too slow and they don’t count.
I have completed all of these on the roads around South Australia.
It can be cold, wet and most can be a bit lonely, but the countryside is beautiful.
I am immensely fortunate to have a long- suffering wife who, although she doesn’t get the appeal of riding that far on a bicycle, has supported me along my journey.

Paris-Brest-Paris 2023

On August 20, 2023, I set out to ride from Paris to Brest and back in the Audax Club Parisienne 4 yearly Paris-Brest-Paris ride. I need to complete this in under 90 hours. The more I sleep the faster I have to ride.  During my training for this event,  I came across this organisation and it resonated!

Please help me raise 50 bicycles!

Simon/Sam

I believe in the Power of Bicycles and their ability to change the world. Please consider supporting my personal fundraising efforts to help mobilise individuals in rural developing countries. Just $215 helps put a brand new bike in the field and forever changes the trajectory of an individual's life.

Spread the word by sharing this page with others who may want to donate to help individuals challenged by distance. 

Thank you for your support!

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$10,727

My Goal

$10,000

Select amount to donate

$35
$65
$215
$945
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All donations in AUD

Thank you to my supporters

$445

Ben Beamond

Best wishes.

$430

Josh Hayes

Amazing, Simon

$300

Bronwen Evans

Bon Voyage Simon, enjoy those climbs & savour the downhills!!

$224.46

Patrick Moran

$224.46

Anthony Purser

Good luck

$224.46

Bill Griggs

$224.46

Steve Wilson

Good luck mad man.

$224.46

Kate Drummond

$224.46

Jeff Ellison

Well done Simon

$224.46

Mark Mussared

Go for it Simon. You're quite mad, but best of luck! Hopefully you'll swap pedals for an engine and come for that sort of ride again soon.

$224.46

Simon Macklin

$224.46

Louis Papilion

Good luck Simon!

$224.46

Steve And Joanne Petito

Best of luck, Simon! We know you can do it! Best wishes from Steve and Jo Petito.

$224.46

Kris Usher

Great work mate! Will be an impressive feat. Look forward to hearing about it when you are back!

$224.46

Matthew Grill

$224.46

Mary-ann

Well done Simon.

$224.46

Anonymous

All the best for ride... L'elephant crewman

$224.46

Anonymous

Tail winds all the way. Go Simon!

$215

Rs Cheng

Hmm… 1200km in 90hr… Good Luck!

$215

Anonymous

All the best Simon. Izhar Haque, Surgeon.

$215

Scott Robinson

Great work Simon

$224.46

David & Clare

$224.46

Rod Cooter

Well done Simon!

$215

Nich M

Go Simon, I will also double my donation if you complete this on a Buffalo Bike

$224.46

Philip And Elizabeth Game

Hi Simon we admire you for your perseverance and vision.

$224.46

Toby Branson

$215

Mark Boesch

Go Shmack Dawg!

$215

Will Cundy

Good luck Simon!

$215

Mark Schoeman

$215

Claire&roger Macklin

Cycle and Survive!

$215

David Ellis

On you Simon!

$215

Tony Russell

$130.50

James Litt

$114.84

Ian And Rosie Budenberg

Great idea Simon to ride for a cause. Good luck!

$110

Phil Worley

Great work you crazy man. Here’s half a bike towards your efforts. You choose if it’s the front or back. Ride well.

$104.40

Andrew Wing

Go for it Simon! Ill double my donation if you do it on The Buffalo!!

$104.40

James Olsen

Good luck on the Pairs Brest Paris ride Simon! I still don’t believe that “anyone” could do it! Takes a superhuman like you!

$104.40

Marni Calvert

Good luck!

$104.40

Roy Chesters

I’m guessing half way through you may be considering donating the bike you’re on ! Well done

$104.40

John Bolt

Ride safely and come home

$104.40

Ian Metcalfe

Have a great time Simon

$104.40

Jonathan Taylor

Enjoy every second of this Simon. Bonne chance!

$104.40

Chris Bollen

Best of luck in PBP Simon. You are an inspiration to all of us. Cheers Chris

$104.40

Sam Willis

You’re a crazy dude!

$104.40

Peter Cundy

Great work Simon

$104.40

Andrew Wallace

$104.40

Lisa Biggs

Crazy! Good luck Simon!

$104.40

Ryan Breslin

Good luck!

$104.40

Alan Newman

Go well Bunky.

$100

Andrew Lavender

Sucker for punishment 👍

$100

Libby Robertson

Second attempt! (Sorry xx) Ride safely Keep well, see you back in Adelaide

$83.52

George Pantahos

Great effort Simon

$67.86

Paula Green

A great cause Simon. Wishing you tail winds and a safe trip.Cheers Paula

$67.86

Bruce Frayne

Good luck Simon

$67.86

Bronwyn Porter

Great initiative, Simon

$67.86

Gordon Eckert

$67.86

Paul & Heather Sambrook

That’s a long ride Simon. Keep strong! Heather & Paul

$65

Anonymous

$65

James D

How hard could it be? Churchill-“Nothing like a little fear to focus the mind''.

$65

Hannah & Peter Schulz

Good luck Si, you’re crazy, but we love you! Hannah & Peter

$52.20

Gerard

Go Hard or Go Home

$52.20

Gary Wakeling

$52.20

Steve Matulich

Good luck mate

$52.20

Cheryl P

What a wonderful cause, safe travels!

$50

Anonymous

$50

Anonymous

$50

Yasmin

Amazing cause, Simon!!!

$50

Chris Mcdonald

$36.54

Frank Grutzner

$36.54

Nadine Tapper

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.... Go Simon!!

$20.88

Glen Thompson

Good luck with the PBP.